MR LEECH’S STUDENTS

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 3

MR LEECH’S STUDENTS

• 4RECITAL ill AID OF TENNIS GLUE Quality permeated the vocal recital by students of Mr J. T. Leech in Burns Hall last night, tho proceeds being in aid of the First Church Lawn Tennis Club. Seventeen singers ap-’ peered, all well prepared, and they, with the ono violinist of the evening, did so well as to warrant tho remark that tho concert was of musical importance—high importance, it may bosaid, considering that most of the performers are immature and may be expected to improve later on. 'Wise management was also a matter for congratulation, particularly in sending on tho performers in quick succession and in there being no fishing for encores. The part-singing was certainly good. Tho mixed choir, without the books, gave a very- lino interpretation of I By Babylon’s Wave/ and did almost as well in tho ‘Hymn of Music.’ The cleorcsccndos in Dudley Buck’s part song were admirably sung, but tho tenors • had a tendency to shout, and some of tho music is rather low-set for tho basses. _ The ladies’ choir sang ‘The Snow’ nicely, and tho men’s choir gave ‘The Viking Song’ with force and meaning. A feature of the -recital was tho- duet ‘ Calm, Silent Night,’ by Mr J. T. Leech and Mr L. A. North. Their voices made a lovely musical combination, and it was pleasing to hear the tenor once more at his best—that is in music that calls for tone and some strength. Tho reciting by Mr A. Gorrie also proved acceptable. He gave ‘ Carry On,’ and in answer to an encore, ‘Earthenware/ and in each held the respectful attention of the audience. An exceptionally-promising young violinist, Miss Eva Judd, surprised the listeners with her tone and her musicianly knowledge as displayed in a romance by Svenson. There was not a wrong note in it, and her facility in both stopping and bowing was such as is rarely heard from a girl in her teens. Being very heartily encored Miss Judd played ‘Saint d’Amorc ’ not quite' so well. She was probably a little excited over her own success.

All of the song solos were commendable, some very good indeed. A most thoughtful interpretation of 1 Still as the Night,’ by Miss A. Matheson,was a joy in the early part.’ Every bar was a study, yet there was no touch of the laborious. Mr Arnold Perry also sang well until reaching the final bars of ‘On with the Motley.’ He has plenty of power and spirit for such a song, and the emotional passages were effective without exaggeration. Mrs Stanley Foote, who was a natural singer in her girlhood, was heard to great advantage in ‘Nightingale in June,’ her voice being as true and flexible as ever, Mr North gave a good interpretation of the ‘Volga Boatmen’s Song,’ and thrilled the audience with his delightful singing of ‘Sacrament,’ this being “one out of the bos.” Mr Walter Mitchell revivified the ‘Toreador’s Song’ by knowledgeable treatment and voice management. The ‘Hindoo Song,’ by Miss Stewart Mitchell, was a decided success, made so by the excellent agreement between the singer, the obligato player (Miss Judd), and the pianist (Miss Muriel Caddie). Others who sang were Mr T, White, Miss Ina Blackwood, Miss Valda M'Curdy, Mr A. E. Orr, Mrs J. Marshall, Mr W. Hilliker, Miss R. Baxter, Miss Doris M'Curdy, Miss Constance Poole, and Mr Les Stubbs. In each instance ‘the presentation was worthy of the occasion and a credit to the tutor.

Mr L. James played the accompaniments for nearly all the soloists, and got through his heavy task very well. Miss Erna Fountain was at tho piano for the part songs.